Charging-carriage for rolling-mill furnaces



(No Model.)

J. L. MODONALD.

GHARGING CARRIAGE FOR ROLLING MILL FURNAGES. No. 323,186. Patented July 28, 1885.

` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEo JAMEs L. MCDONALD, oE sTEELToN, PENNSYLVANIA.

CHARGlNG-CARRIAGE FOR ROLLING-MILL FURNACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,186, dated July 28, 1885.

Application nieu June e, lees. (No moda.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs L. McDoNALD, a citizen of Great Britaimresiding at Steelton, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Charging-Carriages for Rolling-Mill Furnaces; and I do hereby declare thatthe followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the invent-ion, which will enable others skilled in the arts to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to provide superior means to those now employed for handling with convenience and quickly the usual quantity of blooms necessary to make a railway rail or an analogous product, and thus save labor and avoid chilling the furnace while open for charging, as my device requires less hands and less time for said work, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth in the description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings similar reference-letters denote similar parts through and in the same. y

Figure l'represents a Vertical section of m said device in position 011 Vtracks at furnace. Fig. 2 represents a transverse section-of same, taken vertically through pedestal, and showing the drum and trundle-rollers in perspective. Fig. 3 represents an end view of truckbed under pedestal, with brake attachment thereon for stopping truck in locked position on tracks.

My charging carriage is mounted upon tracks R R', arranged transversely along the front of furnaces B B B2 in such manner that the same may be shifted on said tracks from one to another furnace of aseries. It is adapted to deliver automatically into the open mouth B B2 of furnace, so that a bloom, A, will be landed thereby to theposition of bloom A. A supply-buggy ofthe usual make (not shown) containing the blooms required for a full charge is run up close to the charging-carriage on the same tracks R, and being of a little greater heightgthan carriage they can be readily tumbled off onto the charging-carriage by a boy by aid of ahand-bar. Said ear` riage consists of two pedestals, M, joined together by braces a at b, and by guide-rails g g g2,bolted thereto at both ends in position, as

shown. The bases of said pedestals are provided with axles K and wheels N adapted to travel 011 the tracks R R. The upper parts of said pedestals are laterally extended into two similar jambs, M', in which are mounted the drums C', having journals C2 in the same, and grooves C 0*, of less diameter, constituting thereon the flanges C3, for guiding thereby the trundle-rollers h h h3, connected to the chain-belt G by means of the trundle-axles H H H2, connected to the same by links or any equivalent iiexible devices. Said chain-belt travels on the main or large part of said drums, and said trundle-rollers on either side of it stride said flanges C3, and the guide-rails g g g2, arranged to receive them between them and on them as soon as the chain-belt has passed them beyond the said drums in its back and forth movements, as hereinafter set forth. Said trundle-rollers have end rims to be guided thereby, both on said flanges G3,while passing over said drums, and likewise to keep on said rails for guiding them securely when off said drums.' Said rails are adapted to relieve said belt of undue stress or damage when a bloom is tumbled onto the axles H H H3 in loading the carriage, and that the movement thereof may be anti-frictional to some degree. Said trundle-bed h H, 85e., therefore sustains the weight of the bloom,and said belt has only to perform the drawing and withdrawing of said bed.

A chain, D, when drawn by any suitable motor-as, for example, a hydraulic machine operating a draft-ch ain back and forth throughout a mill, to which chain the chainD may be attached-may operate the latter to advance said belt. At a certain stage of said movement bloom A will be precipitated into the furnace to the position of bloom A. It may be guided in its fall by a peel into any otherl position in furnace deemed more expedient. The reverse movement of said belt is effected by the other chain, D', attached thereto, operated by the return-stroke of said n1otor,the earriage being movable only laterally, and during said operation of charging furnace being held in fixed position by the brake mechanism consisting of clutches W,applied to seize head'of 10o rail when by their ends W they are lifted by the bell-crank lever P, which latter ismounted on supports R3 on truck-platform K', as shown. Any other suitable brake mechanism 'may be substituted for said purpose.

Dogs or tongs supported on overhead track, now usually employed for handling blooms in charging furnace, necessitate delays and cause a loss of heat. By my improvement blooms can be handled in about half the time with about one-third the number of hands.

In practice my drums are about ten inches in diameter,and chain is ten inches Wide. The level of delivery from carriage is about six inches above bottom of furnace-door and forty inches from the ground. The rails g at top of carriagel serve as fenders to curb bloom against rolling off belt, and also to keep the rollers h, Ste., on the rails g when bloom is tumbled onto the axles H, &c., which latter are secured flexibly to belt on exterior side of' it.

What I claim is* 1. In a charging-carriage for mill-furnaces, the combination, with laterally-movable carriage on tracks in front of furnace-mouth, of drums journaled in uprights on said carriage, and of an endless-chain belt provided with mechanism for operating it back and forth, for the purpose substantially as set forth.

2. In a chargingecarriage for mill-furnaces, the combination of rigid carriage-frame mounted 0n Wheels, and tracks adapted for moving carriage from furnace to furnace laterally, of drums journaled in said frame, of endlesschain belt supported on said drums, of atrundle-bed having its axles or transverse bars fiexibly secured to said belt, and its rollers guided for relieving said belt of undue stress thereon, and of chains or means connectingsaid belt with a motor adapted to impart a reciprocatory movement thereto, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a charging-carriage for mill-furnaces, the combination of the pedcstals M, braced rigidly together and movably mounted on tracks R It', the drums C, journaled in said pedestals, the chain belt G, supported on said drums, the trundle-axles H, Sto., attached t0 said belt, the trundle-rollers h, &c., applied to flanges C3 on said drums and to the rails g g2 in line therewith, and the chains D D,applied to couple said belt and actuating mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a charging-carriagefor mill-furnaces, the combination of pedestals M, braces a, wheels N, drums C, chain belt G, trundle-bed 7L H, &c., guide-rails g y g2, and chains D D',

all connected and adapted for operation as and for t-he purposes set forth.

' JAMES L. MCDONALD. Attest:

THnorHrLUs WEAVER, D. M. WEAVER. 

